12 Jul “Leaving Country Club Christianity” (Learning to do anything to reach the lost…except compromise) PART 7
About three decades ago I was a youth pastor. I remember we were hosting a minister’s luncheon at our church. Because I was a part of the hosting church I was invited to sit at the head table. This was where some of the big name ministers were sitting and so I felt a little bit out of place.
At first I was excited and honored to be sitting there, but eventually I couldn’t wait to leave. You see, some of the big name ministers were gossiping about another big name minister in another state. I was just a youth pastor and couldn’t rebuke these elder statesmen (I Tim. 5:1). So I quietly looked at my food for most of the lunch and was counting the minutes until it was over. After this lunch was over, I told Anne “If I never get invited to sit at the head table again, I would be just fine with that!
Remember this: You blowing out another man’s candle will never make yours shine any brighter!
Isn’t it time we all left Country Club Christianity?!
The Bible tells us in I Corinthians 9:19-23: “For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might win the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.”
Over the last couple of months we discussed: “Three Leaving Lessons”:
- We have to be able to leave our preferences.
Now in order to understand this better, please allow me to share “6 Preference Principles”:
- Never compromise on principle. Frequently compromise on preference.
- Never compromise on conviction. Always extend compassion.
- Never change the message. Frequently change the methods.
- Resist the system with courage. Reach the souls with compassion.
This month let’s continue….
5. We must do everything we can to reach the lost…except compromise.
When I was a youth pastor decades ago we trained our teens to win the lost. After solid training and with much adult supervision and oversight, we threw our teens into the “lion’s den.” We took them to an AC/DC concert! Now of course, I don’t mean into the concert, but outside the venue so we could share the Gospel with those on the “highway to hell.” That wonderful evening our teens were so nervous before they left, but led 12 people to Jesus outside the concert. When it was time to leave they did not want to go as God was truly using them to make a difference for Him!
You see, we did everything we could to win the lost…except compromise! We did not go in…we were a clear and distinct separate group and we were there for one purpose alone…to share the Gospel!
Remember this: You will never win the alcoholic by buying him another beer! Let’s do everything we can to win the lost…except compromise. Sometimes the world is so churchy and the church is so worldly…it’s hard to tell the difference!
Join us next week as we continue your our series…